NO MAN'S LAND

Around 3000 rejected and "non-returnable" asylum seekers live in Norwegian asylum reception centres. They remain in an indefinite limbo situation for several years, without permission to work, no right to essential medical care and no possibility to leave for another country. The only solution offered is to remain in asylum reception centers with no privacy and a daily allowance far below the poverty threshold. They come from countries that will not receive them if returned because of lack of official return agreement or countries too dangerousto return to. After a couple of years in this limbo situation, the majority experience severe psychological trauma and many suffer from illnesses due to lack of medical care. This project is dedicated Eritrean Yemane Teferi who died in January 2016 after 25 years in Norwegian asylum reception centres.

The story about Yemane Teferi from Eritrea. Yemane spent 25 years waiting to be granted asylum in Norwegian and Swedish asylum centres. He died from a sudden heart arrest at Bømlo Asylum Centre six months after this video was shot. His last wish was to be buried in the woods at Bømlo, but the Norwegian authorities returned the body to Eritrea.